DeMotte Christian Knights

It’s a new era for Demotte Christian girls’ volleyball! After 12 years under Tawnya Roodzant, DMCS Athletics hired Zach Collins of Hebron as its new head volleyball coach this spring. Collins’s father, Gary, who is now an assistant on the DMC staff, led the Hebron girls volleyball program for ten years. While the 2024 season is just getting underway, the DMCS community is excited about the program and the future is bright under Collins’s leadership. The 2024 Knights are led by senior captains Sophie and Claire Bakker, both of whom are averaging 1.5 kills per set on the young season. Junior Cheznie Kooy leads the team in blocks with four, and aces with five, and junior Mackenzie Bult has two kills and four blocks on the season. Seniors Abbey Talarek and Jorie Rottier lead the back row, with 2.5 and 2.3 digs per set. Junior Jillian Tysen has stepped up at setter, with 14 assists already on the season, and sophomore Lauren DeCavitch has also been brought up to the varsity team to split time at the setter position. Along with a new head coach, this season has seen some real potential from the freshman class. Tenley Neises has stepped into a significant role on the varsity team playing back row, and Ila Dees and Heidi Perzee have cracked the varsity roster as well. The Knights seized their first victory of the season on Saturday over conference rival North Newton at the West Central tournament. With plenty of volleyball left to play, the team shows a real potential to succeed this year and in the future as Coach Collins continues to stamp his signature on the program. Go Knights!